We all know that a normal adult human body consists of a total of 206 bones, including: 29 skull bones, 51 trunk bones, and 126 limb bones. Among these, limb bones are divided into 64 bones in the upper limbs and 62 bones in the lower limbs. However, research has shown that most Europeans have 206 bones, while most Asians, particularly many Chinese and Japanese individuals, only have 204 bones.
This raises the question: why is there this difference, and where have the two missing bones gone?
According to medical research, the fundamental difference lies in the fifth toe. The fifth toe of Chinese and Japanese people typically has only 2 bone segments, whereas Europeans and Americans have the usual 3 segments.
A survey conducted by Chinese scientists in 1985 revealed that Asians, specifically Chinese individuals, have fewer bones than Europeans and Americans. Most of the population in this country has only 204 bones. This finding aligns with conclusions from a survey conducted in Japan.
Asians, specifically Chinese individuals, have fewer bones than Europeans and Americans. (Image source: Internet)
In 1995, researchers observed the feet of 615 Chinese individuals and found that 451 of them had only two bone segments in their fifth toe, accounting for 73.3% of the total, while 81 feet had two bone segments in the fourth toe, making up 13.2%. Among the subsequent observation of 294 pairs of feet, 10 pairs had two bone segments in the third toe, representing 3.4%.
Ultimately, they concluded that most Chinese individuals have only two bone segments in their fifth toe, and it is rare for other toes to have only 2 bone segments.
Two British scientists, Pfitzner and Hasebe, later expanded their scope of observation, studying the feet of 838 people from various European countries and 260 Japanese individuals, in conjunction with foot analysis conducted by scientist Venning on 4,632 English individuals, leading to the following conclusions:
Among 828 Europeans, only 4 individuals had two bone segments in the third toe, accounting for 0.48%; there were 13 individuals with two bone segments in the fourth toe, approximately 1.6%, and 310 individuals had 2 bone segments in the fifth toe, around 37%.
For the 4,632 English individuals, the respective ratios were 21/100/1970, accounting for 0.45%, 2.16%, and 42.53%.
Similarly, for the 260 Japanese individuals, the ratios were 0/20/191, representing 0 / 7.7% and 73.5%.
The number of bones in humans is not “static,” nor fixed. (Image source: Internet)
In reality, this difference is related to changes in the number of bones during human development. Scientific research shows that the number of bones in humans is not “static,” nor fixed. Accordingly, a newborn has 305 bones, children have 217, and adults have 206.
It can be said that cases of having more or fewer bones than these numbers are very rare. With continuous growth, some bones begin to fuse. During this developmental phase, the number of bones in the human body gradually decreases and becomes “stable” after reaching adulthood.
There is a hypothesis suggesting that the difference in bone count between Asians and Europeans stems from the lumbar region to the pelvis. According to this hypothesis, young Asians have separate hip, pelvic, and pubic bones. However, as the body matures, the cartilage between these three bones disappears, allowing them to fuse into a single hip bone. This represents a difference in the evolutionary process of Asians.
Why do some adults have two fewer bones than others?
In fact, it is an astonishing truth that newborns actually have more bones than adults. It is estimated that a newborn’s skeleton contains around 300 bones, while the number of bones in children is 217. Scientists have observed that the number of bones in humans is not fixed and can change throughout development. What happens that causes the bone count to decrease from 300 at birth to 206 in adulthood? There is only one reason.
Newborns have around 300 bones, while adults typically have 206 bones. (Image source: INF)
The reason is that many of the bones in children will fuse together, resulting in a decrease in the actual bone count. The fusion of bones occurs throughout the body. The process of replacing cartilage with fused bone begins when small blood vessels – known as capillaries – supply nutrient-rich blood to osteoblasts, the bone-forming cells. Initially, osteoblasts create bone that encases cartilage, and then eventually replace it completely.
Subsequently, bone growth in children occurs at the ends of many bones, where growth plates are located. The developing tissues in each bone determine the final size and shape of that bone. When a person stops growing, these growth plates close. Typically, this process is completed by the age of 25. After this occurs, the bones of individuals at this age can no longer increase in size. All these bones make up the skeleton of an adult.
Does “losing bones” have any impact on the body?
Having more bones means a higher probability of bone injury, and the reduction of two bones not only does not affect mobility and activity but also decreases the likelihood of injury, which is beneficial for humans in primitive societies.
Moreover, the evolution of humans is aimed at improving survival, thus it does not negatively impact the body or human health.
